Eye protector



E. D. TILLYER EYE PROTECTOR July 7, 1931.

Filed Jan. 21, 1930 [b D. FLAV 9 'INVENTOR 2 ATTORfiEY Patented July 7, 1931 UNITED, STATES TICAT. COMPANY, OF SoU HBEInG-E, E MASSACHUSETTS PATENT? OFFICE i EDCAE n. TILLYER, 0F SOUTHBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR o AMERIC N or- MASSACHUSETTS, A voLUNT EY sSoCIATIon EYE EEoTEC'ToE Application filed January 21,1930. Serial No. 422,298.

This invention relates to improvements in cation.

eye-protectors and has particular reference to improved means of ventilating said eyeprotectors;

The-principal'object of this invention is to utilize the pressure and flow of air such as is encountered in aviation, automobiling and other high-speed occupations, to the best advantage in producing a positive ventilation of the interior of the eye-cups of an eye-protector.

" Another object of this invention is to pro vide a complete and eflicient ventilating arrangement which will be practically hidden from view and protected from accidental Another object of the invention is to produce the positive ventilation without the blowing or suction of cold. air across the wearers eyes. I

Another object of the invention is to provide an eye-protector with said. improved ventilation without detracting from the appearance of the eye protector with bulky additions to its exterior.

Another object of the invention is to provide an eye-protector with improved ventila tion'which will be economical and simple to manufacture adding little additional cost to the finished product. Y Other objects and advantages will become apparent from the following description taken 'in connection with the accompanying .drawings and it will be apparentthat many .changesmay be made in the details of-con- Struction and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit of the invention as expressed in the accompanying claims. I, therefore, do not wish to be limited to the exact details shown and described as the preferred forms only have been shown byway of illustration. 7

' In the drawings Fig. I is a front view of embodying the invention.

' Fig. II is a top view of the eye-protector shown in Fig. I.' 1 c,

' Fig. III is a sectional view taken on line IIIIII of Fig. II.

an eye-protector Fig. IV is a perspective view of a modifi- Fig. V is a fragmentary sectional view similar to Fig. III showing a further modi- 7 fication.

It. is well known that in eye-protectors used by aviators and automobilists a positive ventilation is necessary owing to the closelyfitting face pad and the large area covered thereby which would otherwise cause fogging of the lenses and overheating the face of the wearer.

The need of providing positive ventilation has ben recognized in the past, but the means provided to accomplish, the desired result have been of an elaborate nature and formed unsightly projections at the exterior. of the eye-protector. In my invention I have provided extremely simple means to induce a 7 positive ventilation of the eye-protectors and at the same time overcome the disadvantage of havingbulky excrescences destroying the smooth exterior of the eye-protector.

' Referring to the drawings wherein similar characters of reference denote correspond- .ing parts throughout the several views the numeral -l denotes the lensesof the eye-protector which are supported bythe lens rims 2. The lens rims 2are joined together by the hinged bridge. 3 having struts 4: extending from the hinge posts, 5 for this purpose.- The lensri ms 2 are split at their temporal ends and clamped together at this point by means of the end-pieces 6 carrying the head band7. i A face ontact member 8 of rubber or other resilient material is fitted into each lens rim 2 and clamped therein by the endpiece members 6. A metal frame 9 may be secured to the face contact-member'S by sewing or other means to maintain the Shape of the rubber face contact 8 sothat it'ma y be removed and inserted freely and the rubber face contact 8 will be clamped betweenthe lens rim 2 and frame 9 when in theeye-protector and So held rigidly in place. I

In ventilating this eye-protector it will be apparent that I have used a Simple and novel device to create an eflicient circulation of air.

I first cut away a short portion of the face contact 8 at the point 10 and pierce a number of vent holes 11 in the lens rim 2. I also pierce a number of vent holes 12 in the inner frame 9 which I preferably stagger from those in the rim as shown in Fig. III. These vent holes admit air into the interior of the eye-protector.

The vent holes 11 and 12 are preferably placed at the bottom of the eye protector and fresh air will enter through and circulate across the interior.

At the other side of the eye-protector, preferably the top, I place my air exhausting means which consists in the preferred embodiment of a curved tubular member 18 having a split 14 intermediate its ends and extending from the outside to the inside of the eye-protector. The tubular member is preferably tapered from a narrow portion adjacent the split 14 to its terminal ends and is fitted to the lens rim 2 by soldering or other suitable method into a pair of suitable holes 15. The inner frame 9 and face contact member 8 are preferably slotted at 16 in order to fit over the tubular member 13 and yet be removable freely.

In fitting my improved ventilating means to the eye-protector I preferably form my tubular member 13 in one length and place the two enlarged ends through the holes 15 in the lens rim 2 from the inside. After soldering the tubular member in place it may be sawed through to form the slit 14 and the face-contact member 8 and frame 9 placed in position with the slots 16 allowing free clearance.

The operation of the ventilating means is of an efficient nature and comprises utilizing the pressure of the air encountered in aviation or automobiling to create a movement of the air from one side of the eyeprotector interior to the other. Air will be constantly rushing past the exterior of the eye-protector and the tubular member 13 will catch a certain amount as shown by the arrow 17. The currents thus caught will travel constantly through the tubular member 13 and the suction created at the slit 14 will suck air from the inlet vents 11 and 12 across the whole interior of the eye-protector and carry it away at the other side of the tubular member 13 to that where the current enters.

The staggered vent openings 11 and 12 will prevent direct air currents from impinging on the eyes of the wearer but the air will be flowing constantly from one side to the other preventing steaming or fogging of the lenses and overheating of the wearers face.

The tubular member 13 has openings in two directions so that whichever way the head is turned the ventilation will be carried on in an efficient manner.

The Vent openings 11 and 12 and the tubular member 18 have been shown at an angle to one another so that air will travel for a greater distance as shown by the arrows across the eye-protector than if the opposite openings and tubular member were directly opposite one another.

If desired I can form my tubular member 13 with a split portion 18 which does not extend completely through the center section as shown in Fig. IV. This form is made the same way as the previously described type but in forming the split 18, I do not out completely through the tube. The operation of such a modified form will be similar to the previously described type as will be apparent.

A further modification is shown in Fig. V wherein I do not utilize a tubular member but form an aperture 19 in the face contact member 8 communicating with a hole 20 in the inner frame 9. The rim 2 is preferably formed with apertures 21 which have a portion of their edges turned up to form baflies 22. This form will also operate in a similar manner to the type first described, the air currents being deflected into the aperture 19 by means of the baflles 22 and thereby creating suction for the air in the interior of the eye-protector.

It will be seen that in my improved form of ventilation I have provided all the desirable features without expensive additions to the eye-protector and without adding an unsightly appearance to the eye-protector. The tubular member is practically hidden from sight and is extremely simple and economical in manufacture.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that a ventilating device of high efficiency has been provided for eye-protectors used in strong air-currents particularly, and the enclosed ventilating means is safeguarded from accidental damage and at the same time less unsightly than the prior art forms placed on the exterior.

Having described my invention I claim:

1. In a device of the character described, an eyecup having an air channel in its wall extending from one external opening to another and intersected intermediate its external openings by a vent connecting the interior of the eyecup with the air channel and deflecting means over the external openings adapted to deflect air coming from either direction into the channel and create suction in the vent to draw air from the interior of the cup. 1

2. In a device of the character described, an eyecup having an air channel formed of a tubular member in its wall extending from one external opening to another and intersected intermediate its external openings by a separated portion forming a vent connecting the interior of the eyecup with the air channel.

3. In a device of the character described, an eyecup having an air channel formed of a tubular member in its wall extending from one external opening to another and intersected by a separated portion forming a vent connecting the interior of the eyecup with the air channel and a portion of said tubular member extending beyond the external opening adapted to deflect air coming from either direction into the channel and create suction in the Vent to draw air from the interior of the eyecup.

4;. In a device of the character described, an eyecup having an air channel in its wall extending from one external opening to another and intersected intermediate its external openings by a vent connecting the interior of the eyecup with the air channel, said eyecup also having air inlet openings through the wall substantially opposite the vent whereby air will enter the interior of the eyecup and be expelled through said air channel, said eyecup having outwardly extending portions: adapted to deflect air into the channel to ore-- ate a suction through the vent.

5. In an eye protector mounting, an eyecup having a passageway extending therein be-- low the plane ofthe outer surface of the circumferential wall thereof from one external opening to another and intersected intermediate its ends by a vent connecting the interior of the eyecup with the passageway and through which air is adapted to be sucked I when an air current passes through the passageway.

6. In an eye protector mounting, an eyecup having an inlet and an outlet opening on opposite sides thereof, one of said openings being formed interiorly of the eyecup and ternal opening to another and intercepted intermediate its ends internally of the lens holding member by a vent opening connecting the interiorof the lens holding member with the having indirect communication with the ex- 7 terior of the eyecup through a. passageway which extends within the eyecup below the plane of the outer surface of the circumferential wall thereof and intersects the inner opening in a path substantially normal thereto to cause a sucking-action through said internal openlng when a current of air passes through the passageway.

7 In a device of the character described,

a, an eyecuphaving an air channel extending ated when an air current passes through the 7 air channel.

8. In a device of the character described, a lens holding member having its side wall shaped substantially to the curve of the peripheral edge of a lens and having an air channel extending inwardly below the plane of the outer surface of the Wall from one ex- 

